There will be no conference championships or postseason play for any of Maine’s six college football teams.

Instead, those teams must continue striving for improvement and remain motivated for each opponent as the 2004 season begins to wind down.

Hofstra (4-4) at Maine (4-4), 2 p.m., Alfond Stadium, Orono: Their playoff hopes now gone, Black Bears look to get back over the .500 mark and start a new winning streak against the Pride.

“I really don’t think it will be that big of a problem for guys to get motivated,” said UMaine senior Marcus Williams. “We still want to win. It’s still important. We’re not going to go out there and go in the tank and say, ‘oh, it doesn’t matter.'”

UMaine hopes to draw emotion from Williams’ assault on UMaine’s career rushing record as inspiration in this one. The talented tailback needs 106 yards to surpass Lorenzo Bouier (3,828 yards) in the Bears’ history books.

Williams is averaging 108 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry this season and has scored 10 touchdowns.

UMaine hopes to utilize its potent ground game to chew up valuable clock time and set up its play-action passing package.

Quarterback Ron Whitcomb (143-for-227, 1,511 yards, 17 TDs, 10 interceptions) has been sharp of late, and senior Christian Pereira continues to lead the receiving corps with 43 receptions for 607 yards and nine TDs.

The Bears encounter a Hofstra defense that has surrendered 25.8 points and 393 yards per contest. Linebackers Gian Villante (99 tackles) and Cole Haley (82) are the top defensive performers.

Conversely, Hofstra is the most productive offense in the Atlantic 10, averaging 38.2 points and 418 yards per outing. Quarterback Anton Clarkson (102-for-174, 1,165 yds., 12 TDs, 5 INTs) directs the attack that has netted a league-best 315 ypg through the air.

The Bears, who have struggled to contain opponents’ passing attacks this season (248 ypg, 61.4 completion percentage), must contend with dangerous wideouts Charles Sullivan (54 rec., 665 yds., 5 TDs) and Isaac Irby (45 rec., 630 yds., 6 TDs).

UMaine relies on safeties Brandon McGowan (78 tackles) and Daren Stone (71 tackles, 4 INTs.) along with linebacker Jermaine Walker (64 tackles) to set the defensive tone.

Husson (1-6) at Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham (2-6), 1 p.m., Madison, N.J.: The Eagles, who have been idle two of the last three weeks, return to action against the Devils.

Husson has continued to show improvement this season. The offense is paced by tailback Mike Prentiss (83 ypg, 4.1 ypg), QB David Chase (43-for-99, 716 yds., 7 TDs, 7 INTs) and receiver James Dobson (16 rec., 234 yds., 3 TDs).

The Eagles’ defensive mainstays include Ross Salovitch (29.5 tackles), Josh Nowlin (29), and J.P. Folckemer (23.5).

FDU-Florham, which competes in the tough Middle Atlantic Conference, has lost six straight after winning its first two games.

Maine Maritime Academy (2-6) at Framingham State (0-8), noon, Framingham, Mass.: The Mariners seek their third victory after a tough 17-14 loss to Westfield State.

MMA’s season finale will bring to a close the career of senior QB Pat Bard of Winslow, who has been the team’s catalyst in recent years. Bard has combined his option run and passing skills to average 136 ypg this season.

The Mariners encounter a porous Framingham State defense that has surrendered a league-high 415 yards and 43.4 points per contest.

Today’s other games, 12:30 p.m.: Colby (4-2) at Tufts (2-4), Bates (1-5) at Bowdoin (1-5).